Interior Department

The changes will restore protections that were taken away under former President Donald Trump. But they will take time, and wildlife advocates say many bird species already face a risk of extinction.

Nearly two dozen of the president's nominees await confirmation in the deeply divided Senate.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is removing federal protections for gray wolves in the contiguous U.S., saying the species' recovery is a success. Wildlife groups are promising to sue.

Environmental groups plan to sue to protect the breeding ground for caribou and polar bears. But if a drilling lease is sold, it could make it harder for a future president to reverse the move.

A Trump appointee who was a vocal advocate for "energy dominance" will now work with an oil company pitching a major project on Alaska's North Slope.

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt says the revisions will make the landmark conservation law more efficient. Critics say it will hurt endangered plants and animals as they face mounting threats.

David Bernhardt, President Trump's pick to lead the Department of Interior, made his case before a key Senate panel on Thursday. He faced hard questions about his background as an energy lobbyist.

The National Park Service will increase entrance fees at 117 national parks by at least $5. The increases are far smaller than had previously been proposed by the Trump administration.